How Simple Changes Can Impact Your Health And Happiness

How Simple Changes Can Impact Your Health And Happiness

Kate Wells

You go to the gym, eat healthily, and generally pay attention to your overall wellbeing. That’s great and a step above what most people are doing. But often, it’s the smallest changes that lead to improved health and happiness.

The fact that there are entire industries that focus on the support and improvement of these areas gives a clue to their importance. Constant studies are being done, about the importance of good health and how it improves happiness and vice versa.

Impact Your Health With These Simple Changes

This guide may seem like small changes, but the benefits from implementing these measures can be significant. Sometimes, it doesn’t take a huge effort to become better. This is wonderful news for us, as life is complicated enough without complicating health as well. Take the time to make simple changes step by step to see an improvement in your health and overall quality of life.

1. Get Sufficient Rest…At Least 7-9 Hours

You’d be surprised to know how the lack of sufficient rest can negatively impact the body and mood. Sleep is important to our body’s functions as it’s during this time healing and the restoration of energy take place. Lack of sleep can also cause a decrease in mood, brain function, and even affect our appearance. As such, you should make it your mission to get enough rest every day. A well-rested person has more energy, better cognitive function, and is less prone to irritability.

2. Eat More Healthy Fats

The key here is healthy fats, so don’t gorge yourself on fried foods. Eating foods like avocado, fish, nuts, and other sources of healthy fats can improve immune health, aid in fat burning, improve appetite and metabolism, along with giving you glowing skin and hair. There are a lot of misconceptions concerning the consumption of fats. The truth is, we need healthy fats for a balanced diet and to support our bodies. If you aren’t confident in what constitutes healthy fats, you can do some research.

3. Drink Plenty of Water

Without a doubt, you’ve heard this before. But, drinking plenty of water every day helps to supply organs with the necessary compounds needed to function. There is also the benefit of increased energy, improved skin, hair, and nails, along with improved health. When you think about it, your water can change your life by changing how well your body performs. You should be drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day to get the full benefits.

4. Exercise…Your Body Needs Movement

To put it simply, your body needs exercise to improve its daily functions. Exercise helps to produce sweat which is one of the ways the body uses to remove toxins. You’ll also be building muscles that support the body. Another benefit is that it improves mood and energy levels. Once you make it a part of your daily routine you’ll find yourself feeling more energetic and ready to take on the world.

5. Take Supplements to Help Support Your Body

Another change that you can make is to include supplements in your diet. Supplements help you to get the vitamins and minerals that you may not be getting from food alone. Even a well-rounded diet cannot guarantee that you’re taking in enough of the vitamins that are needed. Use these in combination with a balanced daily diet to see improvement in your overall health. You will also find that your mood is affected by certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Once you get these in balance, you may find yourself feeling happier.

6. Try to Eat Clean and More Organic Foods

Our health is closely related to the foods we eat. Make sure that you are eating the best possible food available to you. This means going for a cleaner, more organic option. Often, the foods you eat contain pesticides, chemicals, and other harmful ingredients that have a whole host of negative effects on the body. When you think of the food you eat as fuel, you’ll only want to put the best fuel in your body.

7. Make Time to Enjoy Life

Lastly, take time to enjoy your life. Being happy with your life greatly improves your health as you are in a better mental and emotional state. These are needed to support a healthy body. Go on walks, spend time with friends and family, and simply do the things that bring enjoyment to your life. You’ll feel much more satisfied and fulfilled.

You must put yourself first and do right by yourself. Maintaining your health is how you’re able to enjoy a fuller, more happy life. Happiness is something we all search for, and it can be achieved through increasing the quality of the life lived. Living our lives to the fullest means taking care of our health, valuing happiness, and working to be better every day.

Photo by Yayan Sopian

Kate is a senior at Louisiana State University studying mass communication and political science. Although she moved to Louisiana for college, Kate still lives, eats and breathes everything New Jersey-- especially when it comes to her love of taylor ham egg and cheese, bagels and pizza. She also quite literally took the "jersey girls don't pump gas" with her on her way. Kate found her passion for writing in high school with her various writing courses and having the opportunity to write for her school paper. She took her passion to school with her and hopes to continue writing in her future, always bringing a little taste of New Jersey along the way.